SKULL is the answer because Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) often features decorated skulls, known as "calaveras," as a central symbol. These colorful, ornate skulls represent ancestors, celebrating life and honoring the departed during this Mexican tradition.
Across
The phrase "Drives up the wall" refers to something or someone causing annoyance or irritation. "Irks" is a synonym for annoys, making it the perfect fit. In this context, both expressions convey the sense of frustration or irritation.
5DINOS?????✨ See Why
The clue "The Land Before Time critters, for short" references the animated film series "The Land Before Time," which features dinosaurs as central characters. "Critters, for short" hints at an abbreviated form of "dinosaurs," leading to the answer DINOS.
7ISITME??????✨ See Why
The clue "Did I do something?" in quotes signals a conversational phrase. "Is it me?" is a common self-reflective expression someone might say when questioning if they are responsible for something, making it the perfect match for this clue. Its tone aligns with casual speech.
9DECREE??????✨ See Why
The answer "DECREE" fits the clue "Official proclamation" because a decree is a formal and authoritative order issued by a person or group with legal or official power, such as a government, monarch, or court. It directly matches the definition of an official proclamation.
10SKULL?????✨ See Why
SKULL is the answer because Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) often features decorated skulls, known as "calaveras," as a central symbol. These colorful, ornate skulls represent ancestors, celebrating life and honoring the departed during this Mexican tradition.
11SETS????✨ See Why
The answer "SETS" fits because a "set" refers to a complete collection of items belonging together, such as a set of chess pieces or a set of dishes. The plural "SETS" expands this to multiple complete collections, matching the clue’s wording precisely.
Down
1IDID????✨ See Why
The clue indicates a response to a direct question, with quotation marks suggesting spoken words. "Who drank all of the Dr Pepper?" prompts an honest confession. "IDID" (I did) is a succinct, spoken admission, matching the informal, conversational tone of the clue perfectly.
2RISES?????✨ See Why
The clue "Stops lying?" features a pun due to the question mark. "Lying" here can mean being in a horizontal position. To stop lying (horizontally) is to get up or stand—hence, one rises. This clever wordplay connects the physical act of rising to "stopping lying."
3KNICKS??????✨ See Why
The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to win the 2026 NBA championship. Led by Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, the historic victory capped off a dominant postseason run and successfully ended the franchise's 53-year title drought.
4SOTRUE??????✨ See Why
The clue "___, bestie" is conversational and mimics casual speech. The answer, "SOTRUE," reflects a common phrase used in agreements or affirmations in friendly dialogue. It fits naturally in this context, where someone might respond enthusiastically to their best friend by saying, "So true!"
6SMELT?????✨ See Why
The answer is SMELT because smelts are a type of small, silvery fish commonly found in both fresh and saltwater. The clue directly describes their defining physical feature ("small, silvery"). This straightforward description matches SMELT perfectly, making it the correct solution.
8EELS????✨ See Why
The clue "They might be shocking?" includes a pun, indicated by the question mark. EELS is the answer because electric eels can generate electric shocks, making them literally "shocking." The playful phrasing hints at this double meaning.
Solving today’s The Atlantic Crossword Puzzle and stuck on the 5-letter answer to the Día de los Muertos decoration clue? Don’t worry, Lady Puzzle Pro has you covered! Whether you want the answer right away, revealed letter by letter, or this wordplay seems too puzzling, keep reading for the explanation.
Día de los Muertos decoration Answer Explained
The answer is SKULL.
The clue refers to Día de los Muertos, a Mexican holiday in which families honor and remember their deceased loved ones. Decorated skulls, often made of sugar and known as "calaveras", are traditional items used as part of the celebration. They symbolize the cycle of life and death and are commonly adorned with bright colors and intricate designs. The answer matches "Día de los Muertos decoration" perfectly as "SKULL" represents this iconic item. Additionally, the clue uses a Spanish phrase ("Día de los Muertos") to give context to the cultural reference, connecting directly to the answer.
Now that you've cracked the 10A Día de los Muertos decoration clue, you're one step closer to completing today’s The Atlantic Crossword Puzzle! If you're still stuck on other clues, don't worry, we've got you covered. Explore more The Atlantic Crossword answers right here, or check out our tools for solving the Bracket City, Stacks, or NYT The Daily Crossword.
Today’s The Atlantic Crossword Highlights
I just finished today’s Tuesday Atlantic Crossword, and it was another nice early-week solve. The grid moved along quickly for the most part, but there were a couple of answers that slowed me down just enough to keep things interesting. SKULL took me a little longer than I expected. Even though skulls are one of the most recognizable symbols of Día de los Muertos, it wasn't the first decoration that came to mind. SMELT was another learning moment for me. I knew it was a fish, but "Small, silvery fish" isn't exactly a clue I see every day, so I had to rely on the crossings. The rest of the puzzle felt approachable, with a few playful clues and conversational entries that kept the grid feeling fresh. Overall, it was an easy but enjoyable Tuesday solve with a couple of nice bits of trivia mixed in.
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